Ball ski binding with oscillatable boot toe fastening and release



Jan. 15, 1957 BALL SKI BINDING WITH Filed Oct. 26, 1955 Fig./

D. A. GOODMAN 2,777,705

OSCILLATABLE BOOT TOE FASTENING AND RELEASE 2 Sheets-Sheet l 99 9/ /09 Fig. 5 /d ,4 Goodman m I INVENTOR.

a I [Fiji-{$554551}! I/5 79 BY l0 lmzq gglg mmmn q -Mfi Jan. 15, 1957 D. A. GOODMAN 2,777,705

BALL SKI BINDING WITH OSCILLATABLE BOOT TOE FASTENING AND RELEASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1953 Donald A Goodman INVENTOR.

United States Patenff) 2,777,705- BALL minimise OSCIIJLATA T'IJE' BQOT Ton" FASTENING AND RELEASE D'onzildAi GofidiitainQ-Mi'sfihl'zighlnfi- Application ctober=25 1 9 53, s'e'nlNdssshn S Clainis' c1; mil -11255;"

My fininh'tioii relates to ballskibindings and is as: signedas an improvement" over the-"ball ski} binding}: of my cpendin'g application Serial No 197,731; filed November 2-7, 1950, now Patent NoI 2,667135-9} dated January 26, 1954'. I

ThEpliitraiY- object of my inventioii is"toprovide-a quick releas'able ski binding for fastening a -sk' at on a -ski and whicli' embodies improved"releasable-boo the fastening means mounted on the ski for oscillatiofi froni sid to' 'si'de to faiilit'ate release of the toe of the b'oot Wlir'r aii abnbrmal-harifitwisf sidewise is *impa'rtedHo'th boot as'in a -fall or'the like: 1

Another ob'jeet is to provide'in'stich a binding improves beet heel fastening means facilitating release of" the lil in a forward-fall by the' 'skieri- Still arfo'tlier object is-- to rovide" in such a binding iii'ipi"iid-niearls atth'e frontof the sliif'or tightening the bindiiig quickly" and easily.

snnanother object is m provide for accomplishing the above-y "means of chriipa'ratively"siiiiple inexpensive construction."

other 'aiid siibordiiiateobjects together w'ith the precise natur'e f mynnprevemems will becom'e readily' apparent when the succeedingdescription and claims are rad with reference to the drawings accompanying" and formvin'g part or this s ecification;

ln sa'i'd drawings: Fi ure 1 is aviewfin perspeetive of'm'y improved b'all :ski binding applied to a ski and ski boot;-

Figure 2;- is a view'in sid'e el'evation o'f the same; Figure 3 isa view in top plan; 7 Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vi w'in' longit'udi :na'l' section taken on theline 4 4of Fig'ure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudi- Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view'in longitudi-- trial section taken on the line of Fig'ureB;

Figure T is an enl'arged fragmentary'view' vertical transverse section of thedetent of the boot t'oe fastening means; and v Figure 8- is" a View in perspective of the base pla te of the" boot toe fastening means.

Referring to the drawingsby numerals; the boottoe fastening means 1; like in the binding of my copendi'ng application, supr a; comprises a socket-'3 in" front of the to'of the" boot 4' open at its front and rear ends and having an internal flange 5' in itsrear end; a hollow dome shaped plunger 7 projecting out of the rear end of the socket 3 and slidably retractable therein-With aflange 9 coacting with flange 5' to'retain the' plungerin the socket 3, a coil springfli in the socket backing the plunger and opposing retraction thereof,- andan abutmeiit member 13 for said spring 1-1= threaded into the front endof the socket 3 and having a keffl-S- in its front end for' screw driver'adjustment of the abutment t'o variably tension the spring 11. Also as in my copending application supra; the plunger 7 of the described boot the fastening means yieldingly seats rearwardly in an upright 'coneave keeper 17"fixed to" the toe' of the boot 1 by wo'od sc'rews 19 and a'bottom flange 21 on said keep'erf' v p According w myim'provements the above described boot to'e fastening" means -1 is pivotally mounted' on top at the 'ski 23 for 'oscillati'on sidewise about an =axis' -per pendiefilar tothewkiby'th'e following means; A= base ilange 25 on' the socket 3 is-fitted flaton" a supporting b'as pIate Z'I- fOi saidsocket which is secured 'ontopof the ski -23 by 'wood 'screws 29. A steel'gromm'et lil extends upwardly throughacentral opening 33 in the base -pla'te:27 and is: suitably recessed at one" end into the bottom 0f saidplate 27 "flush therewith" in underlap pihg' relation to i the edge of opening 33; The grommet 31 form's a" bushing which is suitably inserted into an an'iiular: groove 35 =in saidiflangerand-interlocked with the groove; said groove? 35 forming a: bearing post 37 in said flan'ge 25 rotatabl-y fitted in the grommet '312 Detent: means is provided for yieldin'gly latching th'e boot toe fastening means 1 against oscillation fr'omfa' normal r fastening position: This means comprise's a resilie'ntfront tongue 39'on the base=plate" ben'tt upwardly and rearivardly therefrom. substantially parallel .itherewith ahd overlyinga circular recess 41 in" the: front of the fiangerlsa Aball 43fitting in the"recess'-41 andseating on the-base plate-27 is 'provided for: snapping Iinto: airelaitivel'ysmaller circular terminal recess 45 in? the tongue 39, to yieldingly interlock therewith- A screw=47 inithe tongue 39 and-turned into *the plate-25': provides? for adiustingethetongue 39 'd0WI 1WaId1y to tension =the deteiit means so thafithe detent-means:will release-the boot the fastening means for oscillationv when-l a hard twist is imparted-to theboot- 4--as in an accident,- Z or to tension said: tongue-so that thedetent means will lockathe boot toe retaining-means '1- against oscillation'. The-tongue as best shown -inFigure 7' is providedwithrlon'gitudinally beveled -bottomedges49 for: camm'ing; engagement .with

the ball 43 to faeilitatesnap actionfinterloeking ofthe 1 detent means in either direction: of: oscillation of: the boot toe fastening means 1- into-normal= position.

The-'boot'heel fasteningzrneans of my inventiorf compr-isesa-boot heel-straddling-yoke 53 including a-pain. of

tubularresilient-heel grips 55-having a pair ofarcua'te met al links 57- suitably fixed inand extendingaout of rear ends thereof and one of which =has"a bifurcated,- rear: end 59 inwhich one end of the otherlink: ispivoted by a verti'cal pin -61.- The pin 61 has a circumferential groove Q3-inits upperendt -A collapsiblesplit resilient ring 65 in-thegroove 63- ex-pands out of the same and lockssaid pin-in the links 57 but is compressible in saidgroove by downward pullon-said pintoaform apull; out-pivotal connection-between the links 57; todetach thefsame; As will' be seen-the grips'55 andlinks- 57 form jaw sections of the yoke 53 separable to releasether same from-:heel gripping position. 7

A pull: cord-67 issuitably attached. to rhe lower' end of the pin 61 and-to thetski-23 at therear of the boot 4, by means": presently described so that if: the heelv of the boot 4 is lifted in a forward fall, or the like, of thoskier, said pin-=61; will be pulled. The pull-cord 671 is-attached to the 23; to incline downwardly andrearwardly, when the yoke 53 is attached'by'meansof. a: sleeve 69 threaded through an angle bracket 71 screwed as at=7$ on the ski 23, said cord having a, terminal ferrule. 75 thereon preventing, itfrom pulling out of the sleeve 69. Bock nuts 77' on thelsl'eev'e' 69 provide for locking, the same to the bracket 75.

A pair of flexibly armored-cables 79 are suitably fastened at rear ends thereof within the" grips 55 to the froiit ends of the links 57 andext'end forwardly under front rea'r'i pairs of invertedlongitudinally arc'uat'e cable guides SI, 83' secured by screws 85"to opposite Patented Jan. 15, 1957 the drawings.

, said lever.

sides of the ski 23 adjacent the toe and heel 4. The cables incline downwardly to the rear guides 83 to pull the yoke 53 downwardly and forwardly against the vboot heel and are secured at the front ends thereof to cable tightening means 87 described in the following.

The cable tightening means comprises a throw lever 89 pivoted at one end by a transverse rod 91 in a pair of vertical cars 93 of a bracket 95 fastened on topof the ski 23 in front of the boot toe fastening means 1, by screws 97, said lever being vertically swingable forwardly and downwardly against the ski 23 into cable tightening position. The lever 89 is disposed in the longitudinal center of the ski 23. A U-shaped shackle rod 99 is pivotally securedtransversely in the lever 89 in straddling relation for forward and downward throw with said lever. The ends of the shackle, rod 99 extend rearwardly from opposite sides of the lever 89. A pair of tubular plugs 101 sleeved on the ends of said rod 99 are retained thereon by terminal heads 103 on said ends; The front ends of the cables are screwed into a pair of tubular plugs 105. The pairs of plugs 101, 105 are threaded into opposite ends of a pair of cable tensioning helical contractile springs 107.. I Latch means for preventing expansion of the spring 107 is provided. This means comprises a pair of latch bars 109 pivoted at corresponding ends on the rod 91 at opposite sides of the lever 89 for swinging downwardly and rearwardly to engage hooks 111 on the other ends thereof with upstanding aperture keeper members 113 fixed on the plugs 105 between the rear ends of the springs 107 and shoulders 115 'on said plugs'105.

Referring now to the operation of the ski binding. The cables 79 are tightened byswinging the throw lever 89 downwardly into cable tightening position shown in Such swinging of the throw lever 89 swings the shackle rod downwardly and forwardly to exert pull on the springs 107 and cables 79 so that the yoke 53 of the heel fastening means is clamped to the heel ofthe boot 4 so as to hold said heel down and the toe of the boot 4 fastened down by the boot toe fastening means 1. The pull of the springs 107 and cables 79 against the shackle rod 99 i such that said lever, rod and springs 107'form apast dead center lock-for If the skier desires yield in the cables 79 the latch bars 109 are disengaged from the keepers 113. If not the springs 107 are latched against expansion by the describedspring latch means. If the skier pitches forwardly in a fall the upward lift bythe heel of the boot 4 will cause the pin 61 to be pulled'out' by the cord 67 to disconnect the links 55 and release the yoke to' free the heel of the boot 4. Under a hard sidewise twist of the boot'in eitherd-irection, as in a fall or other accident, the boot toe fastening means may oscillate side- 'wise to facilitate release-of the boot toe. Under a backward fall'by the skier the plunger 7 will yield in opposition to the spring 11 to release the boot toe in a manner whichwill be clear. A slight degree of oscillation of the boot toe fastening means 1 may occur without freeing the boot toe and to facilitate normal skiing.

The foregoing will it is believed sufiice to impart a V toe fastening means on said ski for oscillation about an axis perpendicular tosaid ski into socket disengaging position, and a yielding detent means for yieldingly latch: ing said boot toe fastening means against oscillation; said means pivotally mounting said boot toe fastening of the boot 7 means comprising a plate fixed to said ski, said detent means comprising a vertically spaced resilient apertured tongue on said plate, an apertured flange on said boot toe fastening means and a ball in the aperture in said flange adapted to snap into the aperture in said tongue,

2. In a ski binding for securing on aski a ski boot having a toe socket therein, boot toe fastening means for engaging said socket, means pivotally mounting said boot toe fastening means on said ski for oscillation into socket-releasing position about an axis perpendicular to the ski, boot heel straddling means adapted to be tightened' forwardly against said heel to fasten said heel and" maintain said socket and boot toe fastening means engaged, a hand lever pivoted on said ski forwardly of said boot toe fastening means for vertical swinging downwardly and forwardly against the ski, tightening means for said heel straddling means operative by such swinging of said lever, and a yielding detent means for yieldingly latching said boot toe fastening means against oscillation, ,said means pivotally mounting said boot toe fastening means including a plate liked to said ski, said detent means comprising a vertically spaced resiilent -apertured tongue on said plate, an apertured flange on said boot toe fastening means, and a ball in the aperture in said flange adapted to snap into the aperture in said tongue.

3. In a ski binding for securing on a ski a ski boot having a toe socket thereon, boot toe fastening means for engaging said socket, means pivotally mounting said boot toe fastening means on said ski for oscillation into socket releasing position about an axis perpendicular to' the ski, boot heel straddling means adapted to be tightened forwardly against said heel to fasten said heel and maintain said socket and boot toe fastening means engaged, a hand lever pivoted on said ski forwardly of said boot toe fastening means for vertical swinging, downwardly and forwardly against the ski, tightening means for said heel straddling means operative by such swinging of said lever, and a yielding detent means for yieldingly latching said boot toe fastening means against oscillation, said means pivotally mounting said boot toe fastening means including a plate fixed to said ski, said detent means comprising a vertically spaced resilient apertured tongue on said plate, an ,apertured flange on said boot toe fastening means, and a ball in the aperture of said flange adapted to snap into the aperture in said tongue, said tongue having cam edges for engaging said ball when said boot toe fastening means is oscillated in opposite directions.

4. In a ski binding for securing on a ski a ski boot having a toe socket therein, boot toe fastening means for engaging said socket, means pivotally mounting said toe fastening means on said ski for oscillation into socket releasing position about an axis perpendicular to the ski, boot heel. straddling means adapted to be tightened forwardly against said heel to fasten said heel and maintain hand lever pivoted on said ski forwardly of said toe fastening means for vertical swinging downwardly and forwardly against'the ski, and tightening means for said heel straddling means operative by such swinging of said lever, said heel straddling means comprising a pairof arcuate heel gripping links, one having a rear apertured and bifurcated end, and the other having a rear apertured end fitted in said bifurcated end, a vertical pin extending through said apertures and pivotally and separably connecting said links together, said pin being slidable downwardly out of said apertures to disconnect said links to release said heel, .a pull cord attached at one end to the lower end of said pin and having its other end attached to said ski to pull the pin out of said apertures in response to upward movement of said links by upward movement of said heel relative to the ski, and a resilient expansible ring on the upper end of said pin above said rear ends yieldingly preventing downward sliding of the pin, said ring being collapsible for pulling through said apertures by said pin when said pin is slid downwardly out of said apertures.

5. In a ski binding, means for fastening a boot to a ski including boot heel straddling means comprising a pair of arcuate heel gripping links one having a rear apertured and bifurcated end and the other having a rear apertured end fitted in said bifurcated end, a vertical pin extending through said apertures and pivotally and separably connecting said links together, said pin being slidable downwardly out of said apertures to disconnect said links and release said heel, a pull cord attached at one end to the lower end of said pin and having its other end attached to said ski to pull the pin out of said apertures in response to upward movement of said links by upward movement of said heel relatively to the ski, and a resilient expansible ring on the upper end of said pin above said rear ends, yieldingly preventing downward sliding of the pin, said ring being collapsible for pulling through said apertures by said pin when said pin is slid downwardly out of said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Denton Jan. 14, 1896 Eigenheer Oct. 1, 1940 Udall Jan. 12, 1943 Erwin July 4, 1950 Gould Nov. 18, 1952 Goodman Jan. 26, 1954 Berlenbach Jan. 4, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada Nov. 20, 1951 France Mar. 27, 1939 France Apr. 18, 1949 Germany Aug. 17, 1942 Great Britain June 17, 1948 Switzerland June 1, 1928 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1952 

